Tuesday, 7 February 2023

Economically inactive

The Chancellor is obsessed with getting the "economically inactive" back to work to relieve labour shortages and increase his tax take. In particular he's focusing on the 50 to 65 year olds.

Well, Jenny and I are both economically inactive (unless you count spending money!) and very happy to stay that way. Neither of us have any intention of doing the Chancellor's bidding.

Most organisations would reject me anyway at my advanced age, though Jenny (who's ten years younger) might be favourably considered.

But it would take a hell of a lot to tempt either of us to go back to the world of work. Given that we now have total freedom over our life and what to do with it, why would we want to return to some regimented workplace with its tedious tasks, its incompetent and overbearing managers, irritating workmates and wearisome commutes?

Even if we were offered lavish salaries, generous annual leave and hefty bonuses, we still wouldn't be interested. Retirement suits us just fine and we have no wish to emerge from it.

Neither of us take after those strange individuals who carry on working into their eighties and nineties, without any desire to become couch potatoes or potter round the garden.

In any case the Chancellor doesn't seem to realise that many people are "economically inactive" for a very good reason. They're looking after their parents or grandchildren, they're seriously ill, they don't need the money, or they can now devote more time to the favourite hobby that work got in the way of.

Sorry, Jeremy, you'll have to look elsewhere for your missing wage slaves.

21 comments:

  1. Exactly. I can't imagine anything that would tempt me back to a regular job, even if I were physically and mentally capable of handling it, which is increasingly dubious. For most people, work and its attendant burdens are a wearisome necessity, to which they submit only because there is no other practical way of maintaining an acceptable standard of living.

    If Sunak is inclined to resort to sticks as well a carrots to push older people back to work, let's hope that the uprising across the channel has given him second thoughts.

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    1. Infidel: That's right. Some people greatly enjoy their work, but lots more only work as a "wearisome necessity".

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  2. Oh Gee, I worked most of my life. I earned this blissful retirement.

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    1. Colette: Me too. I worked on and off for 53 years, I deserve my leisure years.

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  3. I loved what I did but after so many years away from it I would be all but useless as time and the law have moved on. I think he might do better to legislate for better pay, and working conditions which might tempt those currently obliged to live on benefits given the low pay and unsocial hours on offer to look for work. I am tired of governments using my money to subsidise employers.

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    1. Fly: I agree, if he wants to get more people back into the workplace, he needs to improve wages and conditions. Otherwise for many people, it's not worth giving up welfare benefits or having to pay sky-high childcare fees.

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  4. Maybe focus on the 20-30 somethings who are economically inactive?? At least over here, that's more the problem.

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    1. Bijoux: I think most of our 20-30 somethings are either working, studying or training. They may not be economically active in the sense of productive but they're certainly active.

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  5. There are a lot of younger people in their 30's or so that don't work. I know a lot of 20 something kids are still living at home with their parents and are not working.

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  6. Mary: If the youngsters are living with their parents, I guess they don't need much money to get by.

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  7. The big question this poses for me is: is everyone who wants and needs to work, employed? Do people need better training? Are there disabled people or older people or young people or parents of young children who want to work but are excluded? If conditions were good and accommodations made, there might be a ready workforce.

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    1. Kylie: Indeed, if there are people who want to work but working conditions and salaries aren't suitable, then employers need to address those things to attract a wider pool of applicants.

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  8. We are not working nor producing yet I can't say we are economically inactive based on the amount of money that goes out of here each month. We don't spend a lot except for housing, food, and medical care but those three...!
    Linda

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    1. Linda: Exactly, we oldies are making a huge economic contribution with all our 101 purchases!

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  9. Wonder why he is bringing this up now? Is there a shortage of people to do things? You know, build things and take care of others in their daily lives like teachers, nurses, farm workers, etc? Or is it just that the government needs more tax money? If everyone went back to work, that tax money would have to go to hiring more people to care for the dependents of those he has just employed. Right?

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    1. Peace Thyme: It's both. There's a drastic labour shortage in many sectors, mainly because leaving the EU ended freedom of movement in and out of the UK, and many of our workers are foreign nationals. The government also needs more tax income because of all those missing workers and because the economy generally is flagging.

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  10. I suppose I could go back to flogging calligraphy, but I don't really want to.
    You are right to point out that the 50 - 65 year olds are often caring for families - both children, and elderly relatives, maybe Hunt could find a way to pay them for this labour, and then they would be officially employed again.
    Sx

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    1. Ms Scarlet: Good idea, pay all those hidden carers a proper salary for their work. But the Chancellor would no doubt plead poverty and the missing magic money tree.

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  11. I am with you all the way, Nick, in that we are enjoying our retirement and have the financial means to pay our bills, insurance costs, grocery bills, and other costs. There is no need (or desire) for us to even consider seeing a return to work, although we have no doubt we could find employment with all the Help Wanted postings. As you said, you would be required to show up on time and we prefer to sleep later some days.

    Of course, there are many older adults who unfortunately need to still work to meet expenses of housing, food, medical. We are fortunate.

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    1. Beatrice: I don't usually sleep in, but Jenny often does so she's glad she doesn't have to rush off to work. Indeed, we're fortunate to have enough money to keep us going without having to put up with some ghastly job.

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